Bertha Mendoza, a worker at Impact Plastics in Tennessee, made a final call to her husband, stating she loved him, as Hurricane Helene floodwaters trapped her. Her body was found on Saturday. Relatives of missing workers expressed frustration at the lack of consultation with families. Survivors criticized the company for not warning them about the flooding. The plant worker remembered losing six friends in the flood. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee addressed questions on the town’s response to the Latino community affected by the tragedy. The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition criticized a lack of support for immigrant families during emergencies. Impact Plastics denied allegations of not allowing workers to leave on time but did not comment further.
Workers claim that supervisors at the plant told them not to evacuate until it was too late. Bertha Mendoza was found dead after being swept away by floodwaters. Families of missing workers criticized officials for not consulting with them. Governor Bill Lee acknowledged the need for better support for the Latino community in emergencies. The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition criticized systemic failures in response to natural disasters. Impact Plastics denied allegations and did not comment further.
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